Comments on: The Six Greatest Fantasy Novels of All Time

By: samtomaino

samtomaino — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:52:11 +0000

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
(love it but for Narnia, I’d go with The Magigian’s Nephew

The Once and Future King by T.H. White
Absolutely

Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories
Absolutely

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
This would be my number one!

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Good, but No
Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link
Haven’t read it.

In lieu of the Clarke and the Link, I’d go with
The Worm Ourobouros by E.R. Edison
The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson

By: lostepic

lostepic — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:07:43 +0000

More challenging than Gravity’s Rainbow? Now you’re peaking my interest even more.

By: nikohakkila

nikohakkila — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:30:52 +0000

Good list; thank you for sparing us the regurgitated Tolkien (Jordan, Brooks, et.al.).

Although, I must agree with masurix regarding Jonathon Strange. The book was work to get through. I had an easier time reading the unabridged Tale of Genji and Gravity’s Rainbow. While the story is interesting the intentionally stylized prose made it difficult to get at.

By: lostepic

lostepic — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:28:54 +0000

I’ve been aware from reading your articles Lev. Grad school and all. I have been at a loss reading opinions that reflect my own. I keep hearing great things about Jonathan Strange. I lack a good sense of whether or not I will like a book. WIth films and video games never really need a critic to guide me. Literature has been around for so long that I am always looking for familiar themes but with fresh settings, characters, and narratives. Not to mention rapid sharp wit. I tend to be disappointed and in need of suggestions from sources I can trust. I love to read but I don’t always have the time to sit and read for my personal enjoyment as opposed to school. I am looking for a good book during the Christmas break to help me forget grad school and Jonathan Strange shall be it.

By: zenke0

zenke0 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:38:01 +0000

Your lack of Pratchett is an epic fail.

By: tekk0

tekk0 — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 21:16:37 +0000

Raymond E. Feist’s – Riftwar Saga … Pug & Tomas will always have a special place in my heart. The other darker fantasy would be Michael Moorcock’s titles which is hard to read at times but the sadness is tremendous.

By: nikkeld

nikkeld — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 05:03:52 +0000

Judged by my subjective emotions, Fata Morgana by Kotzwinkle could belong in the list. It certainly cannot compete in terms of books sold.

By: rowanws

rowanws — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:46:19 +0000

If you’re looking for an “indisputable classic” and “game changer,” you have to include William Hope Hodgson’s House on the Borderland (talk about influencing many subgenres and authors, including Howard and Lovecraft, and definitely Leiber). Also, John Crowley’s Little, Big, and Tim Power’s The Anubis Gates.

Kelly Link? She is a good author, but has not authored one of the top 5, by any means. Not to mention Magic of Beginners is not a novel. Also, “Jonathon Strange”, while amazing is far too recent to be considered a game changer. If you’re allowing relatively recent books, then Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy should be way up there.

By: nemerzain

nemerzain — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:56:52 +0000

You should do something similar with Science Fiction genre. Frank Herbert’s Dune would probably top it.

By: masurix

masurix — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:39:30 +0000

I slogged through Jonathan Strange. It felt like work, and I never got into it. It was kind of like one of those things I felt I ‘should’ read, so I did. That’s the best thing I can say about it.